Cap feeding apparatus



Oct. 4, 1960 w. E. BRUBAKER 2,954,900

CAP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2o. 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1960 w. E. BRUBAKER 2,954,900

CAP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 20, 1956 ZSheets-Sheet 2 L y 57 INVEToR.

BY @@Mwf/ LZ MThis invention relates to cap feeding apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for singly removing caps from a nested stack of caps.

`Caps for containers are usually supplied in nested stacks since they are mostreadily handled in such stacked condition. Even though each individual cap may be ofV a type which is easily bent and deformed, a nested stack ofsuch caps usually has sufcient strength to be handled and transported without taking special efforts to protect the caps. The caps are, however, singly applied to containers and, therefore, when the caps are to be used, it is necessary to separate the individual caps' one at a time from the stack.

It is generally known to supply a stack of caps to a machine and to singly separate the caps; however, the machines now provided for such operation are generally very complex and are not suitable for separating caps which are constructed of thin and structurally weakv material. For example, caps made from thin coated paper or aluminumfoil are usually deformed by the cap separating machines now available and thus the caps are rendered unattractive and are frequently rendered unusable. The cap feeding apparatus of the present invention will singly removecaps from a nested stack of caps withoutl deforming the caps. The apparatus is simple in construction and may be operated with aminimum Vof maintenance. s

It is an object of the present invention toprovide a novel and improved apparatus for singly removing caps from a nested stack of such caps.

It is another object of the present invention to provide @enf o a novel and improved apparatus for singly removing caps from al nested stack of suchcaps, which is simple in construction and reliable in operation and which will not deform thecaps. f ,Further objects and advantages ofthe. present invention willbe-apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate one form ofthe invention. l l

In thedrawings: Fig l is a front elevational View of capping apparatus,

partly in section, including a capY feeding mechanism in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive are diagrammatic 4illustrations of some of the operating parts of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 to 3, shown in various operating positions.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a magazine 13, for holding a stack of caps 15 in a generally vertical direction, mounted on a generally horizontal base assembly or support frame 17. The support frame 17 includes a first pair of diametri- Vcally opposed stack-supporting elements or stops 19 and a second pair of diametrical-ly opposed stock-supporting elements or clamps 21. The stops 19 and the stack clamps 21 operate in predetermined order along with a picker mechanism 25 to allow the picker to engage a lower-most cap 27 in the stackof caps 15, while the overlying portion of the stack is held in place, in order that the picker mechanism 25 may withdraw the cap and release it into a guide track assembly or chute 31 (Fig. l); The cap 27 is then guided downwardly by the chute 31 into position for application to the top of a cup 33.

The operation and construction of the apparatus of this invention may be more readily understood by referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the base assembly 17 includes a circular base member 35 which is attached to a horizontal base frame support 36 by screws 37 (Fig. 2), and which includes an enlarged central opening 38 affording the passage of the caps therethrough. The horizontal support 36 extends from and is fastened, as by welding, to a vertical backing plate 39. The circular base member 35 has a neck portion 35a (Fig. 4) of reduced outside diameter forming a shoulder portion 3517 on the base member 35. A lower, generally circular cam plate 41 and an upper, generally circular cam plate 42 t around the neck 35a `of the base Vmember 35 and rest on the shoulder portion 35h thereof in a manner such that each of the cam` plates is mounted for sliding, oscillating rotative motionron the base member 35. The outer peripheral edge portion of each of these cam plates is irregularly shaped to provide a cam surface. To maintain the cam plates against axial displacement relative to the shoulder portion 3517 of the base member 3'5, an upper base ring 43 (Fig 4) is provided which overlaps the upper cam plate 42 in a manner alording relative sliding movement of the cam plate 42 as well as the lower cam plate 41. The upper base ring 43 is secured Vto the circularbase member 35 by screws 45.

The magazine structure 13, is supported by the upper base ring 43 of the base assembly y17. The magazine type ofstructure 13, preferably comprises four vertical guide rods 47 which are equally spaced-about a circle having a diameter slightly larger thanthe diameter of the caps. Each of the rods 47 is flxednear its upper end, as by welding, to an anglebracket 49 whichf in turn is secured to a horizontal top support bracket 50 by screws 53. The top support bracket 50 also has an opening 55 therethrough to `allowpassage of the caps between the guide rods 47 so that caps' may be loaded into the magaziner The top support bracket '50 is secured,.as by welding, to the vertical backing plate 39,. and a pairof vertical braces 57 support the free ends of the top support bracketf50f The lower section Vof each of the guide rods 47 is secured, `as by welding, toan angle bracket 51 which is `fastened to the upper base ring. 43.of the base assembly 17 by a screw 60. Y p Y l Thebase assembly 17 (Fig. 2) includes the stop means 19 and thestack clamp means 21 as well as the lower cam plate 41 and the upper cam plate 42, respectively,

for operating these means'. The base member 35 has a pair of diametrically spaced openings 61 (Fig. 3) therethrough which slidably receive the pair of stops 19 which move inwardly and outwardly transversely of the central opening 38 in the base member 35. The base member 35 also has another pair of diametrically opposed holes 62 therethrough (Fig. 3), which slidably receive and guide the stack clamps 21 to move inwardly and outwardly transversely of the opening 38 in the base member at positions approximately 90 degrees from the stops 19.

The innermost end of each stop 19 is adapted to protrude into the opening 38 in the base assembly 17 to a position in underlying, stack-supporting relation to the caps in the magazine 13. When in such position, the stops 19 constitute the sole support for retaining the caps within the magazine in generally perpendicular relation to the length of the magazine. For this purpose each of the stops 19 is provided with an inner edge portion 20 of reduced thickness which is adapted to be disposed in the path of the' stack 15, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 9. The non-supporting position of stops 19 wherein edge portion 20 is away from the path of the stack, is seen in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. n

Each of the stops 19 is provided at its outer end portion with a cam roller 65 that engages the periphery of the lower cam plate 41. The cam roller65 is rotatably mounted on a roller shaft 67 which is screwed into an outer end portion of the stop 19. Each of these roller shafts 67 has an elongated hexagonal head with a peripheral groove or recess. A tension spring 69 is disposed between the recess on the roller shaft 67 and a screw 70 projecting from the upper surface of the upper base ring 43, in order to thereby hold the roller 65 against the peripheral edge surface of the lower cam plate 41. As seen particularly in Fig. 3, the lower cam plate 41 is of Varying width about its circumference and includes the cam portions 41a in position for engagement with the rollers 65 on stops 19. The cam portions 41a, in conjunction with the springs 69, are effective to vary the position of the stops 19 relative to the opening 38 upon rotation of the cam plate 41.

To prevent the stack of caps 15 from dropping through the opening 38 in the base assembly 17, when the stops, 19 are in their non-supporting position, there is provided a pair of stack clamps 21 which are adapted to engage the sides of the stack at a lower portion thereof. These stack clamps engage the edges of the lowermost cap in the stack. as well as a number of the overlying caps. Whenk the suction-type picker mechanism 25 advances to engagement with the lowermost cap in the stack, it raises the stack slightly to position the bottom of the stack so that the stack clamps 21 can move to their stack engaging and supporting position and the stops `19 are withdrawn to their position away from the stack, as seen in Fig. 7. Further, when the picker mechanism 25 has withdrawn the lowermost cap from the stack 15 which is then held by the clampsy 21, the stops 19 move back to their stacksupporting position and the stack clamps 21 then withdraw to their position out of engagement relative Vto the stack, as seen in Fig. 5.

The stack clamps 21, which are generally elongated members, are also located opposite to each other and on opposite sides of the opening 38. In order for the stack clamps 21 to firmly engage the stack of caps 15, the innermost end of the stack clamp 21 has secured thereto, as by welding, a channel-shaped holder 73. A pad of soft resilient material 75, such as rubber, is iitted into the holder 73 and protrudes therefrom. Each of the stack clamps 21 is also provided at its outer end portion with a camroller 77 which is rotatably mounted on a roller sha-ft 79 suitably secured in position on the clamp 21, as by threaded Yengagement therewith. The roller Vshaft 79 is similar to the previously described roller shafts 67 and has an elongated hexagonal head with a recess. A

tension spring 69 is disposed between the roller shaft 79 and a screw 70 projecting from the upper surface of the base ring 35 in order to hold the roller 77 against the peripheral surface ofthe upper cam plate 42. The upper cam plate 42 is also of varying width (Fig. 3) to provide the cam surfaces 42a in position for engagement with the rollers 77. The cam surfaces 42a, in conjunction with the spring 69, are elective to vary the position of the clamps 21 relative to th opening 38 upon rotation of the plate 42 relative to base member 35. The motion thus provided for the stack clamps 21 aiords alternate engagement and disengagement of the rubber pads with the sides ofthe lower portion of the stackof caps 15.

Four elongated slots 81 (Fig. 3) are provided in the upper cam plate 42 permitting theupper cam plate 42 and the lower earn plate 41 to be adjustedv in fixed position relative to each other, so that the two cam plates will rotate together about the base member 35 and the cam surfaces of each of the cam plates 41 and 42 will operate in predetermined relation to each other. Four screws 83 are provided to secure the cam plates 41 and 42 together after the proper adjustment is made, so as to prevent the cam plates from rotating relative to each other. The lower cam plate 41 is provided with a lever 85 which extends Vthrough the vertical backing plate 39 and ris connected to a suitable machine drive (not shown) which oscillates the lever 85 in an arcuate path A.

The lower cam plate 41 andthe upper cam plate 42 are adjusted relative to each other so that before the working surfaces 41a of the lower cam plate 41 move the stops 19 to a position away from their position underlyu'n'g the stack `15, the upper cam plate 42 is moved to a position in which the stack clamps 21 are in a position of engagement with the stack 15 to hold .the latter against downward movement. The relative adjustment between the lower cam plate 41 and the upper cam plate 42 is also such that, after the working surfaces 41a of the lower cam plate 41 have been rotated so that the stops 19 have moved inwardly to a position in underlying relation to the stack 15, the working surfaces 42a of the upper cam plate 42 are positioned so that thestack clamps 21 are positioned out of engagement with the stack. The relativepositioning of the stops 19 and the stack clamp means 21 are hereinafter described in greater detail in conjunction with the operation of the picker mechanism 25.

The picker mechanism 25 comprises a suction head 87 (Fig. 1) which is adapted to engage and Withdraw the lowermost cap from the stack. An actuating means 26 advances and retracts the picker mechanism 25 through a generally vertical, arcuate path. The suction head 87 is carried by a tubular rod 89 which passes through a lever 9l1 secured on a rotatable shaft 93. The tubular rod 89 is connected to a vacuum line 97 by suitable iittings 99. The rotatable shaft 93 extends through a main vertical support frame 95 and is connected with suitable drive means (not shown) to rotate back and forth through a predetermined angle. The latter movement is effective to advance the picker mechanism 25 upwardly between the stops 19 to engage the lower cap and lift the stacktupwa'rdly, as described, and then to move the picker mechanism 25 downwardly to withdraw the bottommost cap 27 from the stack 15. Preferably, the drive means connected with the picker actuating means 26 is the same drive means which .actuates the lever 85, or is suitably associated withthe latter, if separate, in order to facilitate coordination of the timing of the operations of the picker 25 and the stops 19 and clamps 2 The picker mechanism- 25 releases the withdrawn cap 27 into the chute 311 (Fig. 1) where it is guided downwardly 4toward a cap positioning element y101 which is pivotally mounted on a rod i103 at the lower end of the chute. As a'cup 33 passes the lower end of the chute 31, the cap is guided in part by the element 101 to Vpass downwardly onto the cup 33, Y

As hereinbefore mentioned, the stops` 19, the stack clamps 21, and the picker mechanism 25 operate in predetermined time relation to allow the picker mechanism to withdraw a single cap from the stack of caps 15. As the cam operating lever 85 'moves in the arcuate path A, the lower cam plate 41 and the upper cam plate 42 move back and forth through the predetermined angle A, and the picker mechanism 25 advances and retreats with a single cap. The timing of the various operating parts can be better understood by referring to Figs. to '9 which diagramnratically show the operating parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in various operating positions. A specific preferred timing scheme is illustrated and described, however, other timings which accomplish the result of separating a cap from the stack may be used.

Fig 5 illustrates the beginning of a cap separating operation with the `staok of caps 15 supported by the stops 19 and the stack clamps 21 out of engagement with the stack. The picker mechanism 25 is in its retreated position. This operative position of the stops 19 and stack clamps 21 may be achieved in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3 by moving the lever 85 (Fig. 3) to its leftmost position. The working surfaces 42a of the upper cam plate 42 are then maintaining the stack clamps 21 in their outward non-engaging position against the bias-ing of the spring 69. The lower cam plate 41 is also positioned with cam surfaces 41a out of engagement with the rollers 65, in order to permit the stops 19 to move to their supporting position relative to the stack of caps y15.

In Fig. 6, the picker mechanism 25 has advanced between the stops 19, engaged the stack of caps 15, and has lifted the stack 15 oif of the stops 19. With the picker mechanism 25 in the advanced position, the lever S5 moves from its leftmost position tothe right (as seen in Fig. 3) and the working surfaces l42a 'of the upper cam plate 42 move away from the rollers 77 to permit the stack clamps 21 to move inwardly to engage the stack 15. When the stack clamps 21 rst engage the stack 15, the lower cam plate 41 is still contacting the rollers 65 so as to permit stops l19 to be in underlying relation to the openings 38. The picker mechanism 25 is still in engagement with the staek 15 As the lever 85 continues along the arcuate path A to tlie right, the working surfaces 41a of the lower cam plate 41 work against the force of the spring 69 to pull the stops 19 out of their supporting position into nonsupporting position as shown in Fig. 7. In such position the lever 85 is in its ghtmost position as shown in Fig. 3. The stack clamps 21 and the picker mecha- Nef i end of a stack of like caps, said apparatus comprising a frame, an elongated magazinecarried on said frame for aligning 4the caps in a stack, a rst stack-supporting means carried on said frame, and including a pair of movable supporting` elements spaced along the outer periphery of the lower end of the staek, means for operably moving said supporting elements relative to a stack-supporting position in underlying relation `to the lower end of the stack, whereby when said supporting elements are in nism 25 are still in engagement with the stack 15. As

shown in Fig. 8, the picker mechanism 25 then retreats with the lowermost cap 27.

With the lowermost cap 27 Withdrawn, the lever 85 begins to move back to its leftmost position. As the lever 85 rotates the lower cam plate 41 and the upper cam plate 42 in a counter-clockwise direction, the cam surfaces 41a of the lower cam plate 41 move out of engagement with the rollers 65 and allow the springs 69 to pull the stops 19 to their supporting position as shown in Fig. 9. As the lever 85 and associated cams continue counter-clockwise to their leftmost position, the cam surfaces 42a enage the rollers 77 and the operating parts again assume the positions shown in Fig. 5. The operation of lever 85 back and forth is, therefore, synchronized with the operation of the picker mechanism 25 in the manner shown.

Although a specic embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, other embodiments may be constructed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for-individually dispensing shallow caps of thin and structurally weak material from the lower said underlying stack-supporting position, said elements constitute the sole support for retaining the caps.v said magazine in generally perpendicular relation to the lengthwise direction thereof, a second stack-supporting means carried on said frame in elevated relation to said first supporting elements, said second stack-supporting means including a pair of movable clamping elements spaced around the outer periphery of the stack, each of said clamping elements having a resilient' cap engaging section proportioned for simultaneous engagement 'with a plurality of the caps including engagement with the lowermost cap, means for operably moving said clamping elements between stack engaging and stack disengaging positions, means carried on said frame for elevating the lowermost cap and the overlying stack from said first supporting elements to a position to permit engagement by said resilient sections of the `lowermost portion of the stack, means to withdraw the lowermost cap, means for operably moving said elevating and withdrawal means to elect elevation of said stack when said resilient sections are out of engagement with the stack and to effect withdrawal of the lowermost cap after engagement of the stack by said resilient sections and after removal of said iirst supporting elements from said position underlying the stack, and means for sequentially actuating said means for operating said first supporting elements, said clamping elements, and said elevating and withdrawal means.

2. Apparatus for individually dispensing shallow caps of thin and structurally weak material from the lower end of a stack of such caps which are positioned with their open end in upwardly facing disposition, said apparatus comprising a frame, an elongated, generally vertical, magazine carried on said frame for aligning the caps in a generally vertical stack, a first stack-supporting means carried on said frame and including a pair of opposed, movable supporting elements, means for operably moving said supporting elements relative to a stack-supporting position in underlying relation to the lower end of the stack, whereby when said supporting elements are in said underlying stack-supporting position, said elements constitute the sole support for retaining the caps within said magazine in generally perpendicular relation to the lengthwise direction thereof, a second stack-supporting means carried on said frame in elevated relation to said first supporting elements, said second stack-supporting means including a pair of opposed, movable clamping elements each having a resilient cap engaging section proportioned for simultaneous engagement with a plurality of the caps including engagement with the lowermost cap, means for operably moving said clamping elements between stack engaging and stack disengaging positions, picker means carried on said frame for elevating the lowermost cap and the overlying stack from said first supporting elements to a position to permit engagement by said resilient sections of the lowermost portion of the |stack including said engagement of the lowermost cap, means for withdrawing the lowermost cap, means for operably moving said picker means to effect elevation of said stack when said clamping elements are out of engagement with the stack, to effect withdrawal of the lowermost cap after engagement of the stack by said resilient sections and yafter removal of said rst supporting elements from said position underlying the stack, and to release the lowermost cap Iafter withdrawal from the stack, a stationary chute means carried on said frame in position for receipt of the lowermost caps fromsaid pio'ker means, said stationary chutemeans being operative to invert and conduct the caps to a point at whieh the caps are applied to a complementary container, and means for sequentially actuating saidA means for operating said flrst supporting elements, said' clamping elements, said withdrawing means and said picker means.

1,593,717 Frick July 27, 1926 8 Carle Ian. 31, Taylor Oct. 23, Simmons Ian. 7, Jemm Jan. 6, Brintonet al. Feb. 1, TeSch June 10, Wahl May 19, Stenger Sept. 29, Moesch Ian. 10, Hansen et a1. Mar. 20, Roberts ANov. 13, 

